HELENA – Gov. Greg Gianforte is asking the federal government to declare a drought disaster area in 11 Montana counties due to severe conditions.
Many of those counties are in Western Montana, including Missoula, Lake, Flathead, Lincoln, Sanders, Mineral, and Ravalli.
“With unusually low snowpack and hot, dry conditions in northwest Montana, it is imperative that the U.S. Department of Agriculture aid Montana communities in accessing critical resources, such as the Livestock Forage Program, Emergency Conservation Program, and Emergency Livestock Assistance Program, to respond to continue severe drought conditions on the ground,” Gov. Gianforet wrote in a letter to Secretary Vilsack.
The governor requested drought declarations for Montana counties facing moderate to severe drought as of July 20, 2023, including Flathead, Lincoln, Glacier, Toole, Sanders, Lake, Pondera, Mineral, Missoula, Ravalli, and Sheridan counties.
By designating these counties as primary natural disaster areas, communities can access funds to help with drought relief, whether through conservation or livestock assistance programs.
“The Flathead River in northwest Montana is currently flowing at approximately one-third of its July average," Gov. Gianforte noted in a news release. "Additionally, Flathead Lake sits more than two feet below its full pool level. As a result of sustained dry, hot weather forecasted through the fall, officials project an above-normal fire season for northwest Montana.”
Gov. Gianforte specifically noted the impacts the drought conditions are having on the agriculture industry in the Flathead and Mission valleys.
Currently, the USDA has not identified any Montana counties as drought disaster areas.
